After losing Game 4 of the NBA Finals, the Indiana Pacers will head back on the road and take on the Oklahoma City Thunder in a best-of-three series. In order for them to win it all, they must win a second game on the road against the Thunder, which no other team in the playoffs was able to do.
Though this is going to prove to be an incredibly difficult challenge for the Pacers, that same exact thought could have been had for many of the feats they have accomplished in the NBA Finals, let alone the playoffs as a whole. Indiana is still within reach of winning their first-ever NBA Championship, and they have proven they have what it takes. However, in order to do so, they must do what no other team has accomplished this postseason.
How the Pacers respond in the face of adversity once again may determine whether they will bring the Larry O'Brien trophy home or not. The team has shocked the basketball world numerous times already. Hopefully for them, they are able to pull a rabbit out of a hat at least one more time.
The Thunder have been fantastic when playing at home
In the regular season, the Thunder finished with a 35-6 record when playing at home, which was the best such record in the NBA. As is the case for most teams, the Thunder were better on their home court, and this has carried over into the postseason, where they are 9-2 at home, according to StatMuse.
The Thunder were the best team in the regular season (and the favorites in the NBA Finals against the Pacers) for a reason. Not only are they one of the deepest teams in the league that can dominate on both sides of the ball, but they also take care of business at home. They have done exactly that in the playoffs up to this point, and it will be tough for the Pacers to break this trend. However, the Pacers are 7-3 on the road in the playoffs, so something has to give.
This series is far from over, and the Pacers have given fans reasons to believe they can win it all this year. However, they do not have many opportunities to get things back on track after their crushing Game 4 loss. An NBA Championship is still a real possibility for Indiana, but in order for them to win it all, they need to take another game in Oklahoma City in order for their dreams to become a reality.